The Breaks

The Breaks > All Episodes

August 1, 2022

Is Rap the Most Dangerous Profession?

By: Jack Anderson

Aside from folks like firefighters, etc., is being a rapper one of the most disproportionately dangerous lines of work? Confucius & Fresh compare the plights of Waka Flocka Flame and Nipsey Hussle to illustrate how the perils of disrespect.

The fellas respond to a Rolling Stone article on the rise of emo rap as the “fastest growing sub-genre” by discussing relatability, youth demographics, and long-term sustainability.

On Hip Hop Facts Fresh details how Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash ended up in Blondie’s “Rapture”, how LL Cool J not-so-sneakily got FUBU into a Gap ad, and when Full Force wrote for the Backstreet Boys. Confucius walks us through the passing of “Uncle Bob” (who saved Lil Wayne’s adolescent life after a suicide attempt), the simultaneous 1999 release of Destiny’s Child’s Writing on the Wall and Hot Boys’ Guerilla Warfare, and Jay Electronica’s production of Nas’ “Queens Get The Money”.

Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion riffs on Charleston White and how disrespect has become the “new normal” in hip-hop.

Confucius Reads the News sheds insight on JetBlue’s merger with Spirit Airlines, President Biden’s COVID-19 test results, the declaration of Monkey Pox as a public health emergency, the volley of projectiles hurled at Kid Cudi’s Rolling Loud Festival performance after replacing Kanye West, and Chris Rock’s insistence that he “shook off” the Will Smith Oscars slap.


Episodes

January 13, 2025

Should Elliott Wilson calm down?

Should Elliott Wilson calm down?

Confucius and Fresh talk about not getting nominated for an Austin music award this year, and discuss Elliott Wilson’s views hip-hop journalism.

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December 23, 2024

2024 Year-in-Review

Don’t worry, it’s not a clip show! Confucius and Fresh recap moments from The Breaks that made this year one for the books.

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December 16, 2024

How do we feel about Jay-Z

Confucius and Fresh talk about the recent rape allegations against Jay-Z. Plus they try and figure out why rap songs are getting shorter.

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December 9, 2024

Is Drake going to be okay?

Confucius and Fresh talk about the implications of Drake’s latest lawsuit, what to expect from Austin hip-hop and R&B going into 2025, and an Unpopular Opinion on the status of regional hip-hop.

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November 25, 2024

What happened to R&B?

Confucius and Fresh talk about the evolution of R&B’s character over the decades, hip hop and drug usage, and an Unpopular Opinion on Drake’s potential to “fall off”.

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November 18, 2024

Who benefits more from the marriage: Jay-Z or Beyoncé?

Confucius and Fresh weigh who gains the most from their industry relationships: Jay-Z or Beyoncé and Young Thug or Gunna, plus an Unpopular Opinion on the future of white rappers.

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November 11, 2024

Do celebrities respect Austin?

Inspired by a recent visit from T.I., Confucius and Fresh talk about how celebrities treat Austin before moving onto the role of Black celebrities in politics and an Unpopular Opinion on 50 Cent.

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November 4, 2024

Has GloRilla overtaken Cardi B as hip-hop’s “it girl”?

Confucius and Fresh confer on GloRilla’s growing popularity, check the pulse on Austin’s hip-hop scene, and predict the state of Drill music’s foreseeable future.

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